Nozzle management device and control method of nozzle management device

1. A nozzle management device comprising:

a pallet that stores suction nozzles used for a component mounting machine;

a nozzle station installation device that targets a nozzle station which is detachably installed in the component mounting machine and which holds a plurality of the suction nozzles, and that installs the nozzle station detached from the component mounting machine;

a nozzle transfer device that transfers the suction nozzles between the pallet and the nozzle station installed in the nozzle station installation device; and

a control device that controls an operation of the nozzle transfer device in accordance with an operation mode,

wherein the pallet and the nozzle station respectively have a plurality of sockets capable of holding the suction nozzles by adopting a predetermined posture,

wherein the operation mode includes an exchange operation for transferring the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as storage targets from the nozzle station to the pallet, and for transferring the plurality of the suction nozzles which are respectively designated corresponding to the sockets of the nozzle station from the pallet,

wherein in the exchange operation, the control device identifies a position of a vacant first socket, secures the first vacant socket, and transfers one of the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as one of the storage targets to the vacant first socket secured in a movable range of the nozzle transfer device,

wherein thereafter, the control device controls the operation of the nozzle transfer device so as to alternately and repeatedly perform

a loading operation for transferring the suction nozzle from the pallet to the socket of the nozzle station which is emptied out by the transferred suction nozzle, and

an unloading operation for transferring one of the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as one of the storage targets from the nozzle station to the socket of the pallet which is emptied out by the loading operation, and

wherein in the operation mode excluding the exchange operation, the control device maintains a vacant state for some of the plurality of sockets in the pallet, and secures the vacant first socket in the pallet in the movable range of the nozzle transfer device.

2. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a maintenance device that performs maintenance on the suction nozzles serving as management targets,

wherein the maintenance device has a maintenance pallet which holds the suction nozzles in a movable range of the nozzle transfer device, and

wherein in a case where compared to a quantity of the plurality of the suction nozzles designated in the exchange operation, a quantity of the suction nozzles stored in the nozzle management device after the maintenance is performed by the maintenance device is insufficient, the control device controls the operation of the nozzle transfer device so as to transfer at least the insufficient quantity of the suction nozzles from the nozzle station to the maintenance pallet.

3. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a temporary placement table capable of holding the suction nozzle,

wherein when the exchange operation is performed, the control device transfers the suction nozzle from the pallet to the temporary placement table, and secures the vacant first socket in the pallet.

4. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a temporary placement table capable of holding the suction nozzle,

wherein the vacant first socket is secured on the temporary placement table.

5. The nozzle management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a stocker that accommodates the plurality of pallets,

wherein the stocker has a carrier which moves the pallets between a position where the plurality of pallets are accommodated and a position where the nozzle transfer device is capable of unloading the suction nozzle, and

wherein in a case where the plurality of pallets accommodated in the stocker are required to transfer the plurality of the suction nozzles designated in the exchange operation to the nozzle station, the control device sets a combination of the plurality of pallets required for the exchange operation so as to minimize at least one of a movement number, a movement time, and a movement distance of the pallets, which are involved in a movement operation of the carrier.

6. A control method of a nozzle management device which includes

a pallet that stores suction nozzles used for a component mounting machine,

a nozzle station installation device that targets a nozzle station which is detachably installed in the component mounting machine and which holds a plurality of the suction nozzles, and that installs the nozzle station detached from the component mounting machine,

a nozzle transfer device that transfers the suction nozzles between the pallet and the nozzle station installed in the nozzle station installation device, and

a control device that controls an operation of the nozzle transfer device in accordance with an operation mode,

wherein the pallet and the nozzle station respectively have a plurality of sockets capable of holding the suction nozzles by adopting a predetermined posture,

wherein the operation mode includes an exchange operation for transferring the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as storage targets from the nozzle station to the pallet, and for transferring the plurality of the suction nozzles which are respectively designated corresponding to the sockets of the nozzle station from the pallet, the control method comprising:

a retracting step including

identifying a position of a vacant first socket,

securing the vacant first socket, and

transferring one of the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as one of the storage targets to the vacant first socket secured in a movable range of the nozzle transfer device, in the exchange operation; and

an exchanging step of controlling the operation of the nozzle transfer device so as to alternately and repeatedly perform

a loading operation for transferring the suction nozzle from the pallet to the socket of the nozzle station which is emptied out by the transferred suction nozzle, and

an unloading operation for transferring one of the plurality of the suction nozzles serving as one of the storage targets from the nozzle station to the socket of the pallet which is emptied out by the loading operation, and

wherein in the operation mode excluding the exchange operation, the control device maintains a vacant state for some of the plurality of sockets in the pallet, and secures the vacant first socket in the pallet in the movable range of the nozzle transfer device.